Zambia ICT Authority holds challenge to grant startups seed funding

The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has launched an Innovators Challenge Competition, aiming to reward entrepreneurs who can take innovative ideas from conception to actualisation.

Competitors in the ZICTA competition are competing for a grand prize of ZMK15,000 (US$1,200), a brand new HP Pro-touch Laptop and a fully sponsored trip to Barcelona, Spain to attend the GSMA Mobile World Congress in 2016.

First runner-up will take away ZMK10,000 (US$800) in seed funding plus the laptop, while second runner-up takes ZMK5,000 (US$400) and the laptop.

“Innovators will be required to develop innovative solutions under any of the categories above that make use of ICT platforms to solve real social and economic challenges in various sectors of the economy or aspects of day to day life,” ZICTA said.

Innovative solutions should specifically address challenges in areas such as the efficient use of energy, mitigating the effects of climate change, disaster management, traffic management, lifestyle, health and education, agriculture and conservation farming.

The contest is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students from universities and colleges as well as upcoming entrepreneurs in the ICT sector across Zambia.

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Passionate about the vibrant tech startups scene in Africa, Tom can usually be found sniffing out the continent's most exciting new companies and entrepreneurs, funding rounds and any other developments within the growing ecosystem.